Virginia Veterinary Centers Richmond

This is NOT an income friendly place! They will take your animal back but you have to pay everything upfront once they bring you back to tell you what's going on. And you can't take your furr baby home until you agree then pay them. They offer no payment plan except some credit card deal that obviously would not be an option for income strapped individuals. Our baby Boba had a very bad UTI that caused a blockage he was crying and we couldn't wait to get him to a vet and this was the only place open. They wanted to keep him for 24-48 hours but it would have cost us $2300! Money we absolute did not have. "Ethically I can't let you leave with him, it's a serious condition". We understood that, but we felt we were held hostage! We had to agree to pay and if we didn't our baby wouldn't get help or be kept there and treated and given to god knows who else. We wouldn't know what they would do with our Boba. We felt trapped! It was awful. We kept our composure though and said you just unblock him and give him back! So thank God they met us in the middle. They drained his bladder and flushed him out and for that we are %100 appreciative but did not give or suggest anything to treat the UTI. $400 later and we could take him home and he is doing a lot better. But they need better options for people who can't dish out thousands of dollars at a time. They gave no option, you pay or you don't get you cat back. They may have said it in a nicer way but it made us feel like we got taken advantage of. Although the staff was nice especially the nurse that helped us. We know animal care is expensive but GIVE OPTIONS! Read Less

I've visited VESC a few times when my pup became ill. I really like VESC. One of our visits required my pup stay a few nights. The staff were great and provided me regular updates to his status along with the cost. I appreciate their upfront attitude about cost rather than being surprised by the bill. Everyone is friendly and knowledgeable. I would not hesitate to go back again. Read Less

It's all about selling procedures. I took my very sick cat in on a Sunday for supportive fluids until I could get him back to my regular vet. Without ever offering to consult with my vet about tests and diagnoses already done, they insisted it all be done again. The next day I wanted to pick him up and got a big sales push and treated like a negligent pet owner. I was told his vitals were normal. When I got there he was near death. At my regular vet we discovered had a fever of 105. I'm certain that no matter what we did the little guy was going to die. It's shameful that they were more focused on selling expensive tests than the comfort of my dying cat Read Less

We went here after our dog became very ill on a Friday evening. We paid the bill in full (~$900) when we left. Unfortunately our dog passed away shortly thereafter. To keep the memory alive Virginia Veterinary Centers continues to send us a bill claiming we owe $3.00 (even tho we paid in full when we left). For that they get 1 star. Pathetic. Read Less

We went here after our dog became very ill on a Friday evening. We paid the bill in full (~$900) when we left. Unfortunately our dog passed away shortly thereafter. To keep the memory alive Virginia Veterinary Centers continues to send us a bill claiming we owe $3.00 (even tho we paid in full when we left). For that they get 1 star.. Pathetic. Read Less

I cannot thank the wonderful staff at Virginia Veterinary Center enough. They immediately focused on making sure my dog was comfortable and eased her pain. I cannot think of a more helping and professional group of young men and women. I am forever in your debt. Thank you so much for getting my dog back to her energetic and loving self. I would rate this practice over 5 stars if I could. You have gained a customer for life. Read Less

Eh. I had a pretty bad experience there. My dog got into the trash, and ate something moldy that ended up being a neurotoxin. My dog was acting very strange. Sensitive to light and touch, then she had a seizure. So I immediately took her to the emergency vet. The vet on shift was CONVINCED my dog was suffering an overdose to marijuana(even though the first thing I told them was her getting into the trash). Which when she first asked if that could be an option, I wasn't offended. That's probably a plausible question. Let's rule everything out, and help my dog. The problem was, even after I told her I don't smoke, and live alone, making the chances of my dog ingesting such a large amount of weed astronomical, she still wouldn't budge on that being what she believed to be the diagnosis. My dog has a peculiar name, and I had been profusely crying (I've never seen a dog have a seizure before. I thought in that second she had died ). I felt like I was judged, and my dog faced the consequences of not receiving adequate medical attention because of it. She told me basically that I would just have to wait for "whatever" was in her system to cycle out. I couldn't even get my dog out of the car before she had another seizure. I took her right back to the vet. Luckily that vets shift was ending. The second vet wasn't really sure what was going on, or had conversed with the prior vet and was also convinced it was marijuana related. The second vet said all I could really do was leave her overnight for observation and treatment if she gets worse. 1,200 dollars later and the morning shift vet who knows what the F* he's doing diagnosed her properly. I very much appreciate that vets effort. The other vet, please just listen to people and not be so judgmental. I love my dog very much and would never give false information in the context of her health, which I take very seriously. What my dog was eventually diagnosed with the first vet mentioned, and then ruled out because "typically that happens to dogs who eat a severely molded carcass in the woods" or something along those lines.  I guess there's more of a chance of a dog ingesting insane amounts of marijuana living with someone who doesn't smoke weed than there is of a dog ingesting a neurotoxin from getting into the trash and eating something moldy ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . Right. Read Less

I have been here on three occasions with different dogs and for different reasons and, while I’d rather I didn’t have to go and see them!, I am always so thankful that the Carytown clinic is there and that the staff, techs and vets are all so wonderful. I hope that you never need their services, but know that, if you do, your pet will be in great hands. Read Less

Pros: the place was clean, the staff was friendly, and our cat got better Cons: they returned our clean cat to us covered in urine and feces. When we complained they said it was our fault. Would not use them again. Read Less

1 Star for my last visit. 5 stars for my 1st visit. Loved the staff that helped my dog deliver her puppies., but this last visit....::, We waited for several hours to be screen. I hate to pull the race card but the lady with a cat ahead of me was not charged for her visit because they determined her cats did not have a broken paw. The doctor determined my puppy's legs were not broken as well yet I was charged $95 for the exam.The girl at the counter tried to smooth it out by saying her car was not examined when I witnessed they take the cat back and both the owner and I heard the pull cat yelling while being examined. I heard the doctor tell her he wasn't going to charge her because he didn't find anything wrong. I spent over $800 during my prior visits between them inducing my dog to trying to save the runt of our litter. I wonder why I was charged for an exam when they could not find anything wrong with my puppy who is obviously struggling to walk but the other patient with a similar issue was not???? Shameful! Read Less

THIS EMERGENCY OFFICE JUST KILLED MY MOMS BABY!!!!!!! She dropped her off last night because she had a rawhide blocking her and couldn’t use the bathroom. They REFUSED surgery even tho we gave them a $1400 deposit (which we want back!!!!) and they “monitored her”. At 1AM we got a call that she was “doing good” with no surgery, at at 3am my mom, with stage 4 cancer who should not be stressed, got a call that HER DOG IS DEAD AND DIED ALONE IN A CAGE!!!!! This is malpractice and neglect at its finest and i will NOT stop until we have the autopsy from another clinic to prove this, and they will be BEGGING for my moms forgiveness. The doctor was COLD and mean and his workers obviously incompetent. How sad!!!! Do NOT bring your pets here for an emergency, better off on your OWN!! My poor mom!!! Read Less

THIS EMERGENCY OFFICE JUST KILLED MYMOMS BABY!!!!!!! She dropped her off last night because she had a rawhide blocking her and couldn't use the bathroom. They REFUSED surgery even tho we gave them a $1400 deposit (which we want back!!!!) and they "monitored her". At 1AM we got a call that she was "doing good" with no surgery, at at 3am my mom, with stage 4 cancer who should not be stressed, got a call that HER DOG IS DEAD AND DIED ALONE IN A CAGE!!!!! This is malpractice and neglect at its finest and i will NOT stop until we have the autopsy from another clinic to prove this, and they will be BEGGING for my moms forgiveness. The doctor was COLD and mean and his workers obviously incompetent. How sad!!!! Do NOT bring your pets here for an emergency, better off on your OWN!! My poor mom!!! Read Less

I have learned that routine vets often don't have the equipment nor the experience for out-of-ordinary or complicated cases. When my routine vet couldn't help me, they referred me to Virginia Veterinary Centers. They jumped into action finding the problem and giving me real answers. My Beast needed to have his gallbladder removed and they performed surgery that day, keeping me informed every step of the way. They didn't sugar coat his chances for recovery, which I appreciated. They did an amazing job because my best friend is here and healthy today with no post-opt complications. The whole team is friendly and I could tell they took the best care of Beast. I highly recommend them and would bring my pups back in a heartbeat if needed. Read Less

Our sweet girl, Bella, passed away on 1/3/18 at VESC/VVC.  The doctors & vet techs were compassionate, competent (at least on the surface), answering all our questions, & explaining the treatment, as we tried everything possible to save our dog.  Marilee, at the front desk, was extremely kind and compassionate, & Keisha was also very kind.  However, several front desk staff members were horrid & should not be working anywhere near crisis, trauma & grief.  My husband rushed to VESC/VVC as our dog was dying, & unfortunately, I did not even have the chance to tell him that our dog had passed away before a staff person slapped down the paperwork re: what to do with our dog's body! -Completely lacking in empathy, compassion, & professionalism!  She did not even offer condolences & I had to ask her to leave the room so I could cry with my spouse & discuss our options.  Earlier in the day, I overheard staff talking about our case disparagingly - commenting on how "awful" it was that "pets suffered because it was so often about the owners and not the pet," as I waited for my dog to get a blood transfusion.  Our beautiful, sweet dog was young and went from never having been sick in her life to passing away in 6 days.  So, yes, we did everything we could do to try to save her.  It is a horribly traumatic & stressful situation to go through & no one should feel judged trying to save their pet through this heartbreaking process.How the financial piece is handled is also terrible - cold, pushy, & lacking in empathy - as many of the other reviews have described.  I will make it my mission to see that this does not happen to anyone else & that compassion comes back to emergency care. Read Less

Andrew Mercurio is an amazing surgeon, very honest and caring! The hospital called every step of the way after I dropped off my dog, from her going into surgery, post surgery update, to time to pick her up. They make sure to give you a low end cost and a high end cost prior to treatment, they're very honest and upfront. I ended up having a credit back to me after the surgery since the cost was below the low end (you pay the low end before leaving like a deposit). I have nothing but amazing things to say about this veterinary hospital. The staff are very kind and everyone seemed happy to be there. I had to see a surgeon for my Husky after she was bitten by another dog and had complications after sutures due to the skin dying after the attack which reopened the wound. Thank you guys for taking such good care of my baby!!! Read Less

Andrew Mercurio is an amazing surgeon, very honest and caring! The hospital called every step of the way after I dropped off my dog, from her going into surgery, post surgery update, to time to pick her up. They make sure to give you a low end cost and a high end cost prior to treatment, they're very honest and upfront. I ended up having a credit back to me after the surgery since the cost was below the low end (you pay the low end before leaving like a deposit). I have nothing but amazing things to say about this veterinary hospital. The staff are very kind and everyone seemed happy to be there. I had to see a surgeon for my Husky after she was bitten by another dog and had complications after sutures due to the skin dying after the attack which reopened the wound. Thank you guys for taking such good care of my baby!!! Read Less

The Veterinarians that practice this Hospital are some of the best without question. Most of the staff is incredibly friendly. I have brought my animals to this location for treatment 6 times and strongly recommend it if an animal requires urgent care. I only gave 4 out of 5 stars due to two employees who were extremely condescending regarding my pet's medical background. The employees did not bother reading the patient's chart after speaking with me multiple times. Other than that single experience this veterinary facility is amazing. Read Less

Unfortunately I've visited more times than I would have liked for emergency visits. The staff is very caring, and the vets do their best to make sure you understand your options for care. I give a four rather than five because I would like to see a little more sense of urgency. When bringing in an animal for emergency care, I feel it would be appropriate to ask the person at the counter who is making a payment to wait a moment while they assess if the new patient needs immediate care, rather than making you stand there and wait before you're even acknowledged. Some of the front desk staff seem somewhat air headed, but the vet techs and vets are capable. One downside is they don't have in house financing or payment plans, but do accept Care Credit. More expensive than most primary care vets, but are open 24/7 in a convenient location so it's worth the money when you can't wait for an appointment with your regular vet. Read Less

I came in because my pup had stepped in glass and I needed help getting it out. They took her away to take her vitals and I was kept waiting with no update for over an hour before I was told about my dogs vitals (which I believe was unnecessary because I just needed help getting the glass out of her paw), and was told she was still waiting to been seen for the glass in her paw. I sat around with no other updates for another hour and a half, then they called me into an exam room to tell me they didn't find anything in her paw. I had to explain to them that she would cry when I put my fingers between her pads. When the vet did it, my dog welped and the vet's reaction was "Oh, she wasn't doing that before. Maybe she did step on something. But she'll probably be fine." I am in disbelief that I had to wait over 2 hours just for a confirmation of what I already knew happened to my dog and for them to esentially do nothing else about it. I sat in the waiting room unaware of what was happening to my dog for them to do nothing but charge me $95 for their time.For an emergency care center, this facility has absolutely no sense of urgency. I would not recommend this facility to anyone. Read Less

For being an emergency room my wait time was a little over an hour, staff was friendly although I strongly encourage you to go elsewhere unless you have deep pockets. JUST to diagnos my dogs problem was $480... That doesn't even begin the list of things I was charged for. Take your business elsewhere that isn't just pulling the strings of your heart. Also don't listen to the "Owner's" responses because it's all BS lies. Read Less

Came here today due to my dog having back pain. We met with Dr. Watts today, she was awesome, and extremely gentle and knew exactly what to do too calm my dog down. As a dog owner I've been to a lot of vets and VESC is definitely in the top tier of taking great care of your pets. I will definitely come back an will recommend to every pet owner. Ps. Ask for Dr. Watts. Read Less

My cat Zeeboo swallowed a bunch of ribbon, I ended up having to bring her in at around ten at night, despite it being late the staff was incredibly polite and caring, the Drs seemed to be very knowledgeable and we're also compassionate to the fact that I was on a budget by suggesting opinions that may be more in my price range. These people saved my cats life and I'm very grateful. I will be recommending them to everyone and using them again if the need should arrive (hopefully not because I make sure I don't leave ribbon on the floor) Read Less

Unprofessional, Greedy/Money Hungry Business DO NOT take your pet to this vet office!! While they may help & heal your pet, they will literally make you sick with their unprofessional and greedy disposition. My wife took our dog Abby to their office on a Monday morning, she had to leave her there for them to run some tests. While this is understandable, they required an 1,100.00 up-front deposit fee before any service(s) were ever rendered. I may be old school, but I had a problem with this, especially the fact that she left her there before any service/treatment was done. When my wife called later that day to follow up, the person she spoke with was very vague in the details what was wrong with her, only to say they needed to keep her another night for more tests. This immediately aroused my suspicion, so I called their office on Tuesday to express my concerns of the way the situation was being handled. When I started to complain, the lady I spoke to abruptly cut me off in the middle of my sentence, attempting to quell what I was saying. She could not give me a thorough analysis of Abby's problem, and said she would have the vet call me. After a couple of hours the vet did call me back and she did explain thoroughly her problem and the surgery procedure, however when I voiced my complaint of the up front costs, she rudely cut me off in the middle of my sentence as the first associate I spoke with. The straw that "broke the camel's back" was the next day which was Wednesday, my wife stopped by their office that afternoon to see Abby and check on her the day before her surgery, which was Thursday. Keep in mind she was AT their office that afternoon. Well, that Wednesday night around 7:30, about 3 hours after my wife left their office, we get a phone call from them wanting another payment. Why didn't they request this when my wife was there during normal business hours? This is the epitome of unprofessionalism, calling someone late in the evening asking for MORE money when my wife was there earlier. Yes, they may help your pet, but they will make you sick with their greed and unprofessional ethics when they are done with you. Read Less

I can't say enough wonderful things about this place. My dog, Ernesto, was seen here on an emergency basis several times in the final weeks of his life.  The staff, from the techs to the vet, was professional, kind and compassionate.  They took the time to follow up with my regular vet after each visit to update his medical records and called me to see how he was doing. They worked with me to balance the costs versus benefits of each procedure and intervention, never once pressuring me to spend money on treatment that would have little or no long-term effect.  When the time came to say goodbye to Ernesto, the staff treated me and my partner with the utmost kindness and made sure Ernesto was comfortable.  I highly recommend. Read Less

I took my dog in during the middle of the night after she ate something she shouldn't have and the entire staff could not have been more helpful and compassionate. They reassured me when I was upset, kept me updated throughout my visit, made sure I understood everything, and went out of their way to make sure I didn't have to pay for any unnecessary procedures. They made a bad situation more than bearable to which I am incredibly grateful. Thank you!! Read Less

Over the phone I have been very happy with their service they are very quick to answer a question and use the best of their knowledge with the that they've had over the many years that they've had been there plus the added years of the doctors and technicians together. When taking an animal there in an emergency of some other sort then Read Less

I had taken my dog Maude to VESC after she very badly injured her nail after a walk on a pedestrian bridge. Maude was seen in a quick manner and taken back to see someone within 10 minutes of being there. The front desk staff was very kind and courteous and spoke to me which helped calm me down. I know a nail injury isn't terrible in the grand scheme of things, but this was my first emergency vet experience with a pet and I was shook up about the whole thing. They brought Maude to see me and my boyfriend and spoke to us about what would be best for as far as treatment went before they did. In addition, they gave Maude some pain medication to take the edge off as she is a pretty anxious pup. I expected to spend a lot for the appointment, but it was a lot more reasonable than I thought it would be. Overall I would say our experience at VESC was very, very positive. They took care of me and my pup when I needed it most. I will definitely return to them in the future if Maude or my cat Scout has an emergency- though I hope they do not! I would recommend VESC to any pet parent. Read Less

I had to bring my puppy here for an emergency surgery. He was running and ran into something which tore his skin and muscle under his belly in the crook of his hind leg. The staff seemed very nice and considerate, and the facility is nice. I disliked that I could not go back with him for his exam, but it is understandable since they are just trying to be efficient. They did a very good job with the surgery, and we had no problems. The prescriptions they gave him helped a lot. Then when he had the sutures out (which I also was not permitted back for) it was surprisingly fast.  The cost was pretty high, but that is also understandable for a Friday night emergency. Glad they took good care of my baby! Read Less

I used VESC for surgical, oncology and emergency treatment. They took great care of my girl and were excellent about regularly updating me with plenty of information. My dog especially loved Dr. Broaddus, and I felt very comfortable letting her handle the surgery.Yes, they are expensive (by my calculation, about 20-30% more expensive than my previous surgical center in another, lower-cost-of-living state). But, the quality of care is great! Read Less

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this clinic to be honest. They charge so much money so be prepared to spend a lot, but don't let that deter you from taking your furry child if they are in need PLEASE. I just was very angry at the last time I was there. My dog was not doing too hot and the receptionist was walking around with her under her arm and trying to give me paperwork, and just walking around like nothing was going on. No rush, though my dog was convulsing. I am still furious. It's an emergency clinic not a walk on the beach. There's a reason why you've rushed your animal there- they need help. Ask for my ID or something and take my pet to the vet, don't walk around with my animal like nothing's wrong. I've had to come here a couple times since I've moved to the area having three older animals. And not impressed. The front staff also has no information nor has any knowledge of anywhere to refer you if you have a question. My dog's cardiologist up and left from there, that part of the clinic completely closed down, and no information was passed on to me. So when I asked for a referral clinic, the front responded with, "I don't know" and wasn't willing to help me either. Very upset with this place, I feel as if this practice is more concerned about money rather than the health of the animals. I want to be sure my pets get the best help, and I never will go to this place ever again. Thankfully there is another place down the road I now can go to. Funny thing- my cardiologist is at the same practice, and I was very impressed with the place when I went for a cardiologist appointment. Give the dogwood emergency and specialty center a look for anyone in need. Read Less

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this clinic to be honest. They charge so much money so be prepared to spend a lot, but don't let that deter you from taking your furry child if they are in need PLEASE. I just was very angry at the last time I was there. My dog was not doing too hot and the receptionist was walking around with her under her arm and trying to give me paperwork, and just walking around like nothing was going on. No rush, though my dog was convulsing. I am still furious. It's an emergency clinic not a walk on the beach. There's a reason why you've rushed your animal there- they need help. Ask for my ID or something and take my pet to the vet, don't walk around with my animal like nothing's wrong. I've had to come here a couple times since I've moved to the area having three older animals. And not impressed. The front staff also has no information nor has any knowledge of anywhere to refer you if you have a question. My dog's cardiologist up and left from there, that part of the clinic completely closed down, and no information was passed on to me. So when I asked for a referral clinic, the front responded with, "I don't know" and wasn't willing to help me either. Very upset with this place, I feel as if this practice is more concerned about money rather than the health of the animals. I want to be sure my pets get the best help, and I never will go to this place ever again. Thankfully there is another place down the road I now can go to. Funny thing- my cardiologist is at the same practice, and I was very impressed with the place when I went for a cardiologist appointment. Give the dogwood emergency and specialty center a look for anyone in need. Read Less

These people are NOT personable AT ALL. Our dog had a huge hard knot & it felt like there was fluid going down her neck and my husband took her to this place around 9:45am on a Sunday. We didn't want to wait until Monday b/c the knot had been there for about a week but it got bigger over the weekend with the fluid. The doctor comes in and doesn't even look at her or touch her, he just kept saying that she is young so it can't be anything too serious but they would give a quote and try to figure out what it is. Before the doctor even looked at her, my husband received a quote for $547.00 to $697.00. This was for 24 hour care, blood work and some other things. My husband leaves her there and before he left he was told he had to pay the minimum of $547.00 so he did. By 3:00pm, we did not hear anything so he calls to check on her and they said they are going to get started soon. They said they had other emergencies come in that were priority over our dog, which is understandable that some animals may have more critical issues but we didn't receive any type of update and if our dog wasn't going to be taken care of until 5 hours later then we would have rather had her home for 5 hours to rest and be comfortable until they were able to take care of her. It only took about an hour for them to call us back to let us know that she was ready to go. She had an abscess that had to be lanced and a draining tube was placed. We went together to pick her up, the doctor comes in and goes over post op instructions. BTW they entire time everyone kept calling her a HE. After he goes over the instructions and asks if we have any questions, he leaves and says OK she's ready to go home. So we sit in the exam room a little longer and we have no idea where our dog is. Finally a receptionist comes in and asks if the doctor has been in and we said yes, she said that the dog was ready and that we can come out for check out now- I told her that no one had explained to us what we were supposed to do- we assumed that they were bringing our dog to us in the exam room. We go out to the receptionist desk to check out and we were asked to give another $71. ARE YOU SERIOUS? We pay the rest of the money and they tell us that our dog will be out soon. We wait a few more minutes and finally she comes out. Her neck is leaking everywhere, which we expected but no one gave us any gauze or anything. The nurse that brought her out handed us the leash and was walking away, I got blood on my hands and my husband had blood all over his hands as well. We asked the nurse if we could have some wipes or paper towels to clean up with and she pointed to the coffee station's napkins and said "you can just use those." That was extremely unsanitary and rude and the napkins were tiny, we took the entire stack that was there because there was blood all over. Now we understand that pricing is always higher when you have to go to an emergency hospital but at least be polite and personable. We felt as if no one really cared about our dog or us in general. Everyone was all about getting the money and sending us on our way. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. The staff was rude and the doctor seemed very unsure of himself. I really didn't like that he didn't even touch or look at my dog until after the quote! Read Less

I am so thankful that this office is open 24 hours! This is the second time I had to take my dog to the vet, and the staff made me feel welcomed and helped ease my worries. As the owner, they keep you informed throughout the whole check-up and provide you with estimates before moving forward. My dog had to stay overnight, and they informed me that I could call anytime to check in and see how she was doing. During a stressful time, their professionalism and great customer service helped keep me relaxed. And my dog is doing better! Read Less

Our dog was very sick at 1:30 a.m we arrived with no one but a patient to let us in. After waiting 20 minutes a tech finally arrived to take our sick dog for vitals. An hour later we were finally talking to the vet who had no idea of what was wrong even after a supposed exam. She wanted $700 for an c Ray and lab work without any treatment. We left because by now he was still alive and in 3 hours our vet would be open. Our vet did an extensive exam without needing labs or X-rays...,, pulled back muscle....$110 later!!!!! I will never take my pet there again. No one was loving or caring to any of the animals there that night nor were they able to offer much support to the owners. I know ER visits are expensive, but at least know what you are doing!!!!!! Read Less

I'm so sad I didn't read all these comments before I ended up at the VESC. My dog had been really sick.. throwing up several times, not eating, clearly sick. We brought her to the VESC and found out our costs would be almost $1000. My husband and I wanted to make sure that our dog would get the care she needed including an "emergency surgery" that the doctor stated she needed. We were also told that it would be ok to leave her there over night and bring her to our regular doctor the next day. I left my dog there and returned this morning to pick her up. I was instructed to take the dog to our vet but when I picked her up- the receptionist looked at me like i was INSANE for asking how my dog was over night. I just left her at the hospital overnight and I don't get an update????? They told me I couldn't talk to the doctor and when they brought out my dog she threw up in the lobby. They gave her to me with an IV in her leg and said to take her to my doctor. (of course they would only tell me this after I paid them and STILL practically had to beg for an update). They said my dog needed surgery but didn't ensure a plan was in place before they discharged her to me. I started crying in the lobby when I started interacting with the staff and haven't stopped. It was such a traumatic experience and one I hope no one has to go through. Our dog is now is capable hands but I still have no idea how my poor dog really did over night.. I'm not one to leave public reviews about places but I'm so traumatized that I felt I had to.Read Less

Great staff who knows what they're doing. They took wonderful care of our small dog when he ingested something not good for him. The staff explained everything plainly and clearly to me: the financial side included an estimate and the veterinary care side included a course of treatment, with some alternatives. As a small business owner, I understand the challenges that come from helping customers out in an emergency: Once the emergency is over and their crisis has been resolved, some of them balk at paying the higher-than-normal fee for urgent/critical care. There were no surprises for me. I'll definitely be going there again anytime we have a vet emergency. Read Less

I had cause to believe my Jack Russell's pregnancy was in trouble yesterday afternoon and called the clinic. Over the years, I have been to other similar centers but this one is far and away THE BEST. They were friendly, professional and, though they had opportunity to inflate a bill, did not. She was examined and I was given instructions on what to expect and sent home. We completed my little girl's paperwork in case things took a wrong turn, THEY DID NOT -- she delivered two beautiful, perfect babies. For me, care for my pets has no price tag but they did not exploit that -- there was no charge. Thank you for your compassion -- I highly recommend.Read Less

I took my Yorkie here to get seen about a possible broken jaw. The staff was courteous and quick. The vet even called around to find me a vet dentist. They were so helpful! All of this was fee of charge, too! I recommend them to everyone. Read Less

My Weim Gracie was very sick and it hit her so suddenly. I brought her into my vet, I had to return  the next day, the next day they suggested that I bring her into the other ER/specialty vet. I was not happy last time I brought my Gracie there...long story. I made an appointment to see an internal medicine specialist Dr Daugherty. Well we ended up at the ER at 5 am and our appointment was at 8am. Dr Daugherty happened to come in early and went right in to see Gracie. Gracie had pneumonia. ...but a very difficult case. Dr. Daugherty was so great, compassionate and explained  all options....she didn't make me feel bad because I could not afford the most expensive option...she worked with us to give our Gracie the best care with keeping cost on the conservative side as we had already spent almost 1000 at out vet. She is wonderful and so was the staff!!! Read Less

My husband and I got married just over two years ago. We are newly married and young which means well... We don't exactly have the most money. He accidentally ran over our basset hound Maggie in the driveway at our house. It was too late to take her anywhere local so we googled to find a 24 hour hospital... We found this one, called, and quickly got her in the car. We arrived around 9 30 and Maggie was taken back very quickly to get examined. This was $95.00. The doctor then told us that further tests would be needed to see the extent of her injuries so he suggested X-rays and tests which were $330.00 and bloodwork which was 225.00. I only agreed to X-rays. So the doctor called us back after he finished with the tests and really couldn't explain what was wrong. He said he couldn't tell based on the X-rays and tests if anything was broken, if there was internal bleeding, or if it was just a bunch of fluid built up. So we payed 330.00 for these tests and found out nothing. Anyways, he suggested she stay overnight for monitoring and worked up an estimate for her stay... The estimate was nearly 2 thousand dollars for monitoring and a consult with a surgeon in the morning. This did not include any treatment such as surgery. We could not afford this so they let us leave. It seemed to me like they didn't want to help us and our baby girl Maggie because we couldn't afford it. We payed almost $500.00 for absolutely no reason. We left 4 hours later knowing nothing except that see was swollen which was obvious... I will never recommend this place to anyone! I have heard several people say that they will never take their animals here again because of the experience that they had at this office. I was very disgusted with our experience.Read Less

My Golden Retriever swallowed a ball and was misdiagnosed by my Vet (I live in Gloucester County) for 6 months. Finally, she was on death's door and my Vet took yet another X-ray and found the ball completely blocking the path between her stomach and small intestine. My Vet told me to take her right away to the Veterinary Emer & Specialty Center in Richmond. She was very well cared for and the operation was successful. Now two weeks later, she had her incision staples removed and all her tests came back normal. I thank the caring staff at VESC for everything that they did in caring for my pet. They were super about staying in touch with us throughout the ordeal. Explanations of what was happening and the costs associated with the procedures were given to us all along the way. Lucy is shaking her tail now and is back to her old self. I highly recommend these folks. - Jay Read Less

My dog started urinating blood as soon as we woke up... In 11inches of snow... I made it from Powhatan to carytown in about an hour and a half and they saw me so quickly and had a plan for her within 45 minutes. Dr Howard and his staff were very short handed because of the snow and they handled the rush with ease. Read Less

My cat was diagnosed with diabetes at this e-vet about a year ago. I initially felt good about my experience there but now that I know more about feline diabetes treatment I feel like the vets there are a bit ignorant. First, I was told that one of the insulins (glargine) they tried on my cat worked "too well" and so they sent me home with a different and much less effective insulin. Well, after seeing no results with the one they sent me home with I finally switched to the one they alleged worked "too well" and guess what? It works GREAT. He has nice flat curves with his blood glucose. What kind of annoys me about this is that glargine has a high remission rate IF started shortly after diagnosis. Now, I worry that I've missed out on that window after dealing with the other insulin for months hoping it would regulate his diabetes.Second, they tried to push the prescription food on me. I even specifically asked about other foods I could feed him (like Instinct Raw or other canned foods). They were adamant he had to be on the prescription food. Fortunately, I had already read enough at that point to know that they were definitely wrong about the food. In fact, the prescription food has way too many carbs for a diabetic. Overall, I really don't think they know much about diabetes and they certainly don't care to empower the pet parent. I doubt that I would go to this e-vet again no matter how kind the staff is because I'd be worried that they really didn't know what they were talking about. Read Less

My bulldog mix, Daisy, has had TPLO surgery (a "permanent" fix to a torn ccl...like a human acl) an both back legs. This place is fantastic and I would recommend this place to anyone. Yes, they are pricey but their expertise, efficiency and standard of care warrants the cost. We all love are pets and this place is the PLACE!! Read Less

When you, as a sane pet owner leave because you were scorned for asking a question (Me: Is that necessary?  Vet: Should I just cut his leg off and find out later there were no problem?) be warned the expensive tests you paid for will not be forwarded to your new, compassionate vet. Read Less

I brought in my dog on Monday at around 7pm after she has consumed a large amount of dark chocolate. Before treating her they made sure I understood their estimate of$1000 for a 12 hour stay to lower her heart rate and induce vomiting. After not understanding all the medical terminology she was using I asked the doctor what was absolutely necessary for her treatment and telling her I could not pay for that she says "I'll put it in the computer and see what comes back." The doctor returns informing me the estimate is now $600. So I pay the $600 and am told that anything additional I will be called to ask for additional payment. At this time I was told it was possible to periodically call to check on my dog. I continue to call the throughout the night to check on my dog and see how her heart rate was. My sister who lives in NY was very concerned also called and was rudely told by one of the people at the front desk that there was only one person allowed to call. When I got to the vets the next day at noon before I was finally able to check her I was informed I had to pay an additional $200 for added treatments. After questioning this several times I was told by an accountant there she would see if there is some kind of discount they could give because I was misinformed. Then another lady came in the room and told me that it was clearly my fault and that maybe they could arrange a promissory note of payment.  I asked her the timing of repaemt and she said 30 days but it would be ok If I went over that as long as I was giving payments. I couldn't believe they were LYING again. How can you call yourself an upstanding business when you take advantage of people's emotional state to get money out of their situation. It was appalling and to make matters worse a third woman comes in the room acting like a moody teenager, slamming papers down, raising her voice and talking to me in a tone that no one should ever be that disrespected. She was demanding that I give the money or all my information (place of work, social security number, bank information) for a promissory note or I wouldn't get my dog back. At this point I was utterly appalled by the treatment of the staff and disregard for the information that was provided to me. I asked her to swipe as many of my credit cards until it wasn't declined so I could get out of this hell hole of an establishment and take my dog home. Do not ever take your very sick animal here. The staff is extremely disrespectful and the doctors will not explain what is going on in terms that you, not as a veterinarian, will understand. Read Less

On the evening of Thursday, July 10th my brother and I rushed my dog, Kyia into the ER as she had suddenly grown very lethargic and was not eating. She was not herself and I mistakenly took her here hoping for the best and of course looking for answers, CORRECT answers. During the initial exam, the vet tech said that she was going to check Kyia's ears and gums. My immediate response was that I noticed on the car ride over that her gums looked paler than normal. Her response to me was, "oh that can't be the case. Because that would indicate something serious." We waited for the doctor to come in and speak with us. The dr that evening was Dr. Anna Barnes. We told her that in order to fully exam Kyia she would have to be sedated as she is scared of the vet and can be challenging to work with. After what we thought was a full exam was completed by Dr. Anna Barnes, she came back into the room and went over the results. The doctor mention an increased level of bilirubin and low red blood cell count. At the time, I didn't know that these were RED FLAGS (along with pale gums, poor appetite and lethargy) for a serious disease known as IMHA ( Immune Mediated Hemoltyic Disorder). Dr. Anna Barnes explained the results away as "artifact" and told us that she couldn't tell us what the issue was with Kyia, but she could tell us what it wasn't. She assured us it was nothing serious and sent Kyia home with a non- descript gastro treatment of Pepcid, no food or water for 24 hrs and bland diet thereafter. Upon leaving the ER, I went to pay the bill and NOT A SINGLE PERSON was at the front desk to help me. Instead, a sign that read something to the effect of "Training in progress. We appreciate your patience." I stood there waiting for several minutes until a few of the front desk associates came downstairs. Apparently, they were off work so neither jumped at the opportunity to actually help me so that I could get home with my sick dog. They both went into the back where this training was going on and one of them actually came back to the front desk to process my payment. I guess all of the other staff on duty were too busy with the training to actually work the front desk. What if another serious emergency had walked through the door??? There would've been no one to help!!!When I received my total, I was happily surprised as it was less than I thought it would be. The estimate I signed was $200 more. I asked the front desk girl if this was accurate and it turns out someone forgot to add the X-rays to my bill. This was fine as I am not the type of person to try to get away with not paying for services provided. The front desk girl explained that the reason someone must've forgotten to add it is because they had a lot going on with several patients having had surgery that day, etc. My very first thought when she said that was I wonder if they just didn't have time for Kyia that evening. I asked the girl directly if she thought Kyia was really okay to leave and she said that it was and Dr. Barnes wouldn't send her home if that wasn't the case. We took Kyia home and followed the orders. Saturday morning, there was no improvement and in fact Kyia was more weak. She could barely walk on her own. We took her back to the ER, where Dr. Culbert could tell right away just by looking at Kyia that she needed to be hospitalized. We expressed our disappointment in the misdiagnosis from the first visit, the low level of service and the time we missed having Kyia properly diagnosed and treated. Due to the situation, the COO agreed to waive the second exam fee of $60 and to have a second round of X-rays done at no cost. In my opinion, this in no way made up for the $500 I already paid for the wasted visit on Thurdsay evening.We left Kyia in Dr. Culberts care that day. I received a call within a few hours from the dr telling me that she suspected Kyia had IMHA. She was so anemic that she needed an immediate blood transfusion in order to have any chance at all to survive. This was done as well as a second blood transfusion that was subsequently needed. The treatment for IMHA was given to Kyia for 4 days with very little improvement. Ultimately, I had to make the decision to put Kyia down as I knew she was miserable and it would've been a tough road for her had she pulled through which seemed very unlikely.In my opinion, we lost crucial time due to the mistake of Dr. Barnes. I don't know why she was unable to properly diagnose and treat Kyia. I suspect it had something to do with being busy with whatever training was going on that evening that tied up every single one of their staff members.I wasn't surprised to find that back in 2009, there was a case brought to the Board of Veterinary Medicine involving Dr. Anna Barnes and her misdiagnosis of an abdominal tumor in a cat named Shadow, who died as a result. See below: dhp.virginia.gov/vet/min…I would NEVER trust this dr again! Read Less

Came in around 8pm on a Sunday night. My little dog tore her dew claw and it was painful for her and I didn't want to wait until Monday. They fixed her up quickly and did the minimum needed to get her feeling better. Fair price for after hours and wonderful service. Thank you! Read Less

So grateful to have found this place in a pinch!When I checked into The Westin I could not wait to lay down and tuck in for the night after the drive down from Washington DC.Unfortunately, whoever stayed in my room before me had left some chocolate behind. Even more unfortunate, the hotel cleaning staff did not see the piece of chocolate by the trashcan.In a swift moment less than 20 mins after arriving, I see my dog chewing on something. So I run over, try to sniff it out (literally) and his breath was oozing with chocolate.Since he only consumed it in a few seconds, I assumed like most that it was a very small amount and that I shouldn't worry. He's a small but durable dog. It wasn't until I noticed how hyper he was for an extended amount of time that I began to question whether he has been affected by it. Still, I wasn't too worried. Then he began to whimper. He usually only whimpers with purpose so I thought maybe he wanted to play. Or was looking for somewhere to go to the bathroom.When I realized neither of those options seemed to halt the whining, I began texting my sister who is a veterinarian.  Because the whining only continued to increase over the period of the next few hours. Maybe he was anxious in a new environment, but I wasn't about to find out the hard way. So I packed him up at 1am, jumped in the car and headed over immediately.I was greeted upon entry by the kind receptionist/vet tech (not sure her exact role) who remembered immediately our conversation on the phone. She was kind, calm and made me feel completely comfortable with next steps. I filled out paper work while she took my pup to the back for his general exam. After a bit of time, the vet came out to find out if I would like to induce vomiting. She suggested possible blood work as well and was hesitant to induce vomiting 3 hours after consumption, but after consulting with my sister more, I felt that was the best option.She then filled me in on the bacon she found (oh yea, that) and suggested some anti-nausea medication while he rested for a bit before going home.About 2.5 hours after arrival, I was sent home with a drowsy but healthy puppy and a bill of a little over $200. (Which I found so reasonable for a 24 hour care facility!)Anyway, if you ever find yourself in a pinch with your little furry one, I would definitely recommend a visit. Your pet will be in good hands. Read Less

When our sweet dog, Cletis, was bitten by a copperhead a several weeks ago, we were in a ridiculous panic.  He went from normal to very bad shape in a matter of minutes.  Upon arrival to the emergency vet we were treated with overwhelming compassion and care immediately (fortunately, they were not busy and our vet had called ahead).Our dog had to stay a few days there and we felt so safe knowing he was in good hands.  Everyone was so patient with our phone calls to check in and visits.The aftercare was explained thouroughly and they continued to check in on his progress weeks later.We can not find enough kind words for all the wonderful staff and feel grateful for them everyday.The emergency vet is never an inexpensive trip but everyone here is so qualified and carry themselves professionally but with such a kindness.I will note that at times they are busy though NEVER unorganized.  Just like an emergency room for humans, they take patients in order but also by severity.  Have faith in each and every person there.  They are an amazing group as a whole and as individual parts...If you have pets, put their number in your phones! Read Less

This is the Rolls Royce of Emergency Vets. Let me give you some background. My cat Justin is a nutcase. He has been getting in trouble his whole life. When he was a kitten, he ate potpourri, poisoned himself, and contracted pink eye. Let's be honest, who knew that cats could get pink eye?  Then, when he got older he ate thread only for us to notice when it started coming out of... the wrong end. That resulted in his first major surgery. This latest fiasco, however, was a little more dramatic (if you can imagine). Justin started projectile vomiting one night and it didn't automatically alarm us because at one point throwing up was part of his normal routine (apparently grass upsets cats stomachs?). But, over the course of the next few days, he became increasingly lethargic and I became increasingly worried. We took him to his regular doctor and they said he was fine.One day, my mother's instinct told me that he was not fine and we chose to bring him here. Long story short, he had eaten the bark off of a house plant and it was lodged in his intestines. If we were to leave it there, he would not make it. When we got to the vet, they were incredibly nice. You could tell that everyone who works there genuinely loves animals and wants the best for your pet. They have amazing coffee and the facility is immaculate. Everyone was so understanding and compassionate. Justin is literally a cat from Hell when he goes to the vet. He yelps (pun intended) and hisses and scratches anyone/anything within his paw's reach. To put things into perspective, he has a bright yellow DANGER sticker on his chart at the regular vet. But someway, somehow, the doctor here was able to examine him without sedation. We were absolutely shocked. That is unheard of and shows what great skill lies within this vet facility. Justin went into surgery that day and came out a few hours later. Throughout the entire situation they kept us informed. They called every day with updates- sometimes twice a day! He didn't turn around as quickly as they hoped after surgery because his blood count was low and he refused to eat. Dr. Lippo made sure to let us know in an honest, caring way. Their superb way of communicating was extremely comforting to me. They allowed us to come visit him in the recovery area. They released him a few days later knowing that Justin was over it and would not eat unless he was at home. Now Justin is back to normal, but not after some complications. A few days after the surgery we noticed that he had two spots on his sides that almost took over half his body. They looked like a huge fungus or giant scabs. We took him back to the vet and it turned out that the heat lamps that were on during the surgery burned him. While usually this would make me furious, their swiftness, honesty, and the way in which they handled the situation was admirable. I understand that accidents happen and at that point I was just glad that my cat was alive, so a few burns paled in comparison to the near death experience with bark. They admitted that it was their fault, thoroughly examined the burns and treated them for free (which left very minimal scarring). I couldn't have asked them to handle it any better than they did. That did mean a few more trips to Carytown, but we didn't mind because we loved any excuse to go back and get that good coffee. If anything ever happens to your pet, do not hesitate to bring them here. I would take Justin back in a heartbeat! Read Less

These guys were great, my dog had run into the corner of a picnic table and puncture his eye. They did a temporary treatment and antibiotics on the eye until they could get him in with their specialist. An eye specialist for dogs who knew! and they were able to do surgery and save his eye and his eyesight. ! AMAZING! Yes it's costly as everyone else has put,but it was a specialist and they were all amazing. Read Less

I had to use the VEC about 3 years ago and found them very helpful and caring. Although it was quite expensive it was worth it to me to have my dogs well taken care of. My most recent visit was a 180 degree difference. The VET hadn't even put her hands on my dog and was all ready telling me that he had to stay at the center for several days with IV fluids, abdominal scan, extensive tests.........did I mention she hadn't even put her hands on the dog at this point!! Nothing....she barely even looked at him. I refused the treatments telling her that I did not want to leave my dog there and that I wanted to take him home to treat him. She had that audacity to make me wait another 25 minutes while she supposedly wrote up her notes and release only to come back to me suggesting that she needed to run blood work and sell me some outrageously expensive supplement. I refused again telling her that I just had a full blood panel run 2 days before of which she had the results in her hand!! It was quite obvious that the agenda was to push as hard as she could to get me to agree to as many things as she could come up with. Something has changed at the VEC....although always expensive, the vets used to be caring and helpful....offering alternatives. Now it appears to be all about pressuring and the money. I will make my way to the VRCC in the future and avoid the VEC. Read Less

I recently had to bring my 23 yr old Persian to vec. Even though the circumstance of the visit was not pleasant (we had to put my cat to sleep) the staff was very polite and understanding which I appreciate VERY much. I was pretty hysterical. Read Less

We took our dog there because it was the only place open on a Sunday and holiday weekend. The vet was extremely nice but I don't agree with what all they did for our pet. They gave her a bag of fluid then turned around and gave her a shot to get rid of the excess fluid. Our dog was drinking plenty of water so we didn't see the need for the fluid. Plus they give you an estimate of the bill in which you sign before they do anything but they did extra stuff afterwards which brought the bill up even more. Example the vet thought our dog needed an Elizabethian collar so she would not lick the incision she had. We told her that she had not bothered the incision yet (dog would have had to be doublejointed to lick there) but the vet had them to put one on our dog anyway...looked at the bill after we left...$30 for the collar alone!! We may have to go there in the future in an emergency but we will be more cautious. Read Less

Seemed to me that its more about money than saving your pet. My dog had been shot. Rather than really doing something for my dog. They just wanted to observe and charge $2k for her to keep over night. They were not willing to provide any good information only prices. No xrays were taken and they told me if they didn't keep oxygen on the dog she would die. They said she would die if they gave her back. After I had heard enough bull I told them to give the dog back to the person who brought the dog there. At that time they gave the the song and dance about how the dog is suffering and I should let them kill the dog there. I told them if my dog was going to die, it would die with me. As my friend departed this clinic they charged $500+ and the vet told him they didn't recommend taking the dog to anyone else......Go Figure. Today {the next morning} the dog is aleart, and eating. I have made a appointment with another Vet that I know has my dogs better interest in mind. Read Less

My dog wasn't eating so I went to VEC on a Sunday morning. After a LONG wait, the vet told me that the dog was in pain due to neck strain. They gave her a pain injection and pain pills. She wasn't eating ...so she wouldnt take the pills. I had to go back at night to get IV fluids because she wouldnt eat at all. To keep a story short, I have a bottle of pills from VEC that are useless. My vet today examined her and the reason she wouldn't eat was due to the PH level in her urine. Her food was affecting the levels. She doesn't need to be on pain medicine or anything else like that. The people were very nice there but I walked out of there paying $200 twice for problems that were not there. How can I put a leash on a dog that has neck pain? If at all possible, I will never go there again. It was such a misdiagnosis that it was not even funny. Read Less

Jan said it right: While many people complain about the cost of VEC care, please understand that you are there after hours, on weekends, or otherwise outside of the normal hours of work or else you would be at your own vet. This and the ability to administer many other tests than a regular vet can possibly afford to support. VEC is THE BEST at emergency care. No emergency is trivialized! I brought in my wounded companion for the ICU and just moments later an animal that was severely wounded in a house fire next door to VEC was rushed in and cared for immediately. The DVM attending said, and I quote, ""Even if she can't figure out payment now we will be treating the cat"". Dr. Hong & Dr. Shana used their education and compassion to care for my Marty McFly and I will never forget it! Read Less

While many people complain about the cost of VEC care, please understand that you are there after hours, on weekends, or otherwise outside of the normal hours of work or else you would be at your own vet. This and the ability to administer many other tests than a regular vet can possibly afford to support - Our own experience, thought expensive, was without price since they helped our familty through the sudden loss of a beloved pet due to an illness her regular vet in Richmond did not see even though he saw her three times in as many days. The last time he was shutting off the lights to get us out of there since we assume he had something more important to do than see to a very sick patient. The long and short of it was he administered a shot of benedryl that almost ended the life of our pet horribly by suffocation! Emergency Vets reversed this error though we lost our baby two days later, she was comfortable, cared for/ and so were her family! . These folks are heros. Read Less

The Veterinary Emergency Center has been in Carytown for over 25 years. I actually had a bad experience ten years ago and have avoided the place. I had a true emergency and I AM so glad I went there!! The place has changed so much all of the staff were care, professional, and compassionate to my family and dog. I didn't even know they had board certified doctors in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Surgery, and Radiology. The place has changed ALOT in ten years. Wish they did regular vet stuff. Read Less